I crushed when I saw this cover. So sweet and pretty much tells you about this the book right off. My favorite UFC Fighting romance writer has a new book coming out of her Fighting series. This is the 5th installment of her Fighters book series, which happens to be about Blake and Layla, who are the focus in Fighting to Forgive, but you must read the other books in the series even after Blake’s book to understand what is going on with this story. I recommend all the books in this series; you can read my reviews of Fighting For Flight, Fighting to Forgive, Fighting To Forget, and Fighting The Fall. I am so excited for this one because they have my favorite fighter Blake featured, and you get to see this alpha fighter guy get all messy with his up and coming little girl on the way.

A Father’s Fight

Life changes in the span of a heartbeat. One, tiny heartbeat.

Blake and Layla have lived through disappointment and regret, only finally finding relief with the powerful love they have for each other. A love they intend to fight to keep.

They’ve had to forgive each other, but can they truly move forward without facing the pain of the past?

Layla’s been avoiding the phone calls. Nine months pregnant and exhausted, she doesn’t want the complication. But she can’t run from the truth. Who ever’s calling was there eighteen years ago. Unlike her, he remembers the night that changed the course of her life, and he’s ready to talk.

Blake’s preoccupied with an email, a few simple sentences sent through cyberspace that have the capability to rob him of his sanity, his freedom, and the people he loves most in the world. When he’s called home for a mysterious reason, leaving Layla isn’t ideal, but hope for reconciliation combined with his brother’s secrecy ignites a curiosity he refuses to ignore.

Putting the pain behind them is no longer an option.

To get the answers they need, they must face the past and open up old wounds that threaten to bleed them dry.

Yep – that about sums it up for me. My heart was twisted, squeezed and completely drained after reading this one. I am a fan of this author’s books and I get so excited about reading a new one of her’s because each one gets better. Absolutely one of the best fighter book series I’ve ever read.

Right off the bat you get this prologue that draws you in and keeps you gritting your teeth to find out what will happen next. The first few pages has you speculating what happened in Cameron’s past, and I had lots of theories, but the author holds out on the explanation at first and then just kinda plops it on you during the story.

Spoiler Alert:

The story does pick up at the end of Rex’s book (Fighting to Forgive #3) but you don’t figure that out until later in the book. So it would be helpful to read the previous books, but not necessary, because you could read this as a standalone. This story is about Cameron, a UFL CEO, and Eve, best friend of Raven’s from the first book (Fighting for Flight). Just in case you haven’t read the first book, you should know that Eve is Raven’s loyal friend who has been treated like another member of this very special fighting family. In the first book, you find out how badly Eve has been treated by men and how her judgement of herself and what kind of person she deserves to be with has been impacted. But in this book, you get the whole history of, her love life, self worth, and why she thinks that way about herself. I kept shaking my head at the beginning and then found myself rooting for Eve. The author has a way of sneaking that bit of feeling in. I liked her in the first book, but I really didn’t know her until now. I just felt sorry for her and loved her at the same time, and I understood why Raven loved her so much. I’m not going to give away the plot and ruin the story, but know that I would have ride-or-died attitude for her just as Raven would towards the end.

Then there is Cameron, better known as Cam. A mature UFL CEO who was a fighter himself, a very stand up guy with a very real situation.

I will have to say that as I read this love story unfolding, I was afraid that the story would be a little creepy because Cameron is much older than Eve. Don’t worry, guys – they are both adults and there are no children involved in this love; there was just quite a generation gap, but as you read on you find that each person has something that the other needs and that need for each other just makes this romance perfect. So perfect that I forgot about that age thing and was hyperventilating because I thought at one point that this love wasn’t going to happen – and maybe it does or maybe it doesn’t – but you’re going to have to read this one to find out folks, because you won’t want to miss this one.

If you love fighting boys, Alpha males and a well written and well told romance, this book is for you. I loved it and I am sure you will love it too. I give it 5 Stars!!!

“Crippling, thrilling, and just plain old heart breaking, the story stays with you for days, swooning over scene after scene in your head. You feel gutted then put back together again by Rex’s and Gia’s story”

Let’s just say I can’t say this loud enough – I LOVE THIS SERIES AND I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS STORY! Sorry for yelling at you like that, but I want to make sure everyone heard me when I say that I could not get enough of the story. From the cover, which Alex Minsky is on; if you don’t know who he is click his name…. to the well-written and fantastic plot twist, to the heart breaking background of these characters and their present situation being so well-described… you can play it in your head like a movie. The depth of these characters is so rich and crippling that it made my head spin a couple of times. You know when I read a book, I look for a book to have this “it” about them. It’s really hard to find, and I don’t like to be able to tell what happens next or be able to know how it will turn out, but I am happy to report this one fits the bill page by page.

“Don’t let the dark pull you in. Remember me. Kick and thrash and fight for the light. I’ll be here. NO matter how long it takes, I’ll be here.”

Rex is an MMA fighter who is a very emotionally driven person. You don’t really see it right away, but you do know he was treated badly in his younger years, but you don’t quite get why he does what he does until you hit the mid-point in the book. You already know from the synopsis that Gia is someone from his past and it is clear in the beginning of the book just who she is to Rex. Gia, to me, at first… I got irritated by. I mean, she came to town to find Rex but she kept to herself a lot so she didn’t really have a plan on how she was going to achieve her goal. Now don’t get me wrong, Gia by no means ruins the book for me, not at all, but I just was rolling my eyes at some of the things she was doing in the beginning, which once you read the book you will understand. But when you get midway towards the end, you are so vested in Gia that you just feel gutted, just plan pulled apart from ya insides, because I didn’t know what was going to happen. I closed my eyes (as if that would help) during a very terrifying part and cheered when Gia and Rex finally got it together.

All in all folks, I read this in one setting. So when you start this book, get your house in order so you have time to finish it (you’ll thank me later). 5 Stars*****

Here is an Excerpt from the book

Mac

“What do you dream about?” His voice is soft, desperate.

“Memories from the past. Things I wish I could forget but can’t.” You. Always you.

“Forget.” A humorless laugh, dry with sarcasm, tumbles from his lips. “You think your nightmares would end if you couldn’t remember the bad?”

“I don’t know. I hope they would.”

He exhales hard and his shoulders drop. “They don’t.”

God, what is he saying? He doesn’t remember the bad, but he dreams it? I’m pushing it, I know I am, but he’s opening up, and I can’t pass up the opportunity to find out if he’s okay, if he’s really okay. “You dream the bad, but you can’t remember it?”

“Something like that.”

That’s not possible. “Then how do you know it’s real?”

He drops his head into his hands, gripping fistfuls of his hair. “I don’t.”

Yipeeee!! I am super excited to see this cover come to my email box! If you have been following me, you know I am a huge fan of the Fighting for Flight Series and can’t wait to dive in and read about Rex’s MMA romance story, but it looks like I am going to have to wait until April 15, 2014 – the release date for Fighting to Forget, #3 in the series. Well let’s not forget my favorite fighter in the series so far is Blake and I would never stray from him, *sighhh* I remember the time he and Jonah came to visit me on my birthday and gave me front row tickets to their next flight!!! Ooohweee! I about fell out on my chair – they are sooo sweet! But I digress. What’s nice about this series is that you get to see all the characters in all the stories and you get see how they grow and change throughout the series (very similar to a Kristen Ashley series). Pre-sales start April 1, 2014and the author has model Alex Minsky on the cover, who has overcome his own demons and is fighting for his future. For those who do not know him, check out his Facebook page (click this link) and you can learn more. Without further ado, here is the cover for the third book in the Fighting for Flight Series, Fighting to Forget. Note that the author changed all of her covers in the series to make them more uniform and to add that she is now a USA today Best selling author. 🙂

Fighting to Forget blurb

Every fighter is drawn to the violence, the release that a perfect hit can bring.
But very few are drawn to the pain.
Rex Carter lives behind a wall of indifference. The demons from his childhood act as an anesthetic, keeping him distant from emotional connections. Only the ache from a knock to the jaw, sting of a tattoo needle, or heat from a piercing, can jolt him back from the numbness. The fiery pain is all he can feel, and nothing compares to the burn.
Or so he thought.

Working in a Las Vegas bar isn’t Georgia Maxwell’s dream. But she hopes it’ll be an end to the nightmare.
Over a decade she’s watched him. Followed his career and kept tabs, all in preparation for this moment. To make amends, repair the wrong. But she didn’t count on the feelings that seeing him again would stir up. The vacant look in his stormy-blue eyes, his perfect body now mutilated by ink and metal.
And only she knows why. She’s lived his pain, every single day, since the day he left.
Changed by time, Rex doesn’t remember the girl from his past. If only she could do the same.

Will she get the absolution she’s spent her life seeking?

Or will he continue, Fighting to Forget?

Unedited Teaser from Fighting to Forget:

Mac

“What do you dream about?” His voice is soft, desperate.

“Memories from the past. Things I wish I could forget, but can’t.” You. Always you.

“Forget.” A humorless laugh, dry with sarcasm, tumbles from his lips. “You think your nightmares would end if you couldn’t remember
the bad?”

“I don’t know. I hope they would.”
He exhales hard and his shoulders drop. “They don’t.”

God, what is he saying? He doesn’t remember the bad, but he dreams it? I’m pushing it, I know I am, but he’s opening up and I can’t
pass up the opportunity to find out if he’s okay, if he’s really okay. “You dream the bad, but you can’t remember it?”

“Something like that.”

That’s not possible. “Then how do you know it’s real?”

He drops his head into his hands, gripping fistfuls of his hair. “I don’t.”

I know it’s about a week into 2014 and I’m late with this list, but I had such a hard time picking the Top Picks from this past year. It has been such a fun ride this year (2013); I started blogging in 2013 and a whole new world opened up for me. I had no idea when I started this blog that there were so many people who enjoyed the same books that I did and loved to talk about them and share their passion of books too. It is kinda funny how the blog all started, with my hubby “suggesting” that I blog about my thoughts about the books I have read and see if there are people that like the same thing (I really think he was sick of me telling him every detail of a book that I was so excited about and wanted me to have another outlet);-) . Anyway, it was the best suggestion yet because I met awesome and brilliant people, from readers to authors to publishers and promoters, and every single one of them gave me motivation to do what I love.

Now, down to the list of books… This was super hard for me to just list the top 10 books; I read over 100 books this year, and it ‘s like asking me which child I like better. I just can’t do that so I just listed books that moved me to tweet and HUNT down an author, sometimes stalk them on social media. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did and please feel free to share your picks too, I would love to hear from you. So here is the list in no particular order.

<— This book I read in the beginning of this year when I think only 10 people had reviewed it on Goodreads, and I saw the cover and read the synopsis: Remy is intense, scorching hot, and he just took over my thoughts while reading. I read page by page and knew this was a hit after I read it. My Review, Author Interview

<—-Ok, so you see a theme here: another fighter book, but wait, this is just not some other fighter book; this is Blake’s story in the Fighting for Flight series. This series is all MMA Romances with huge Alpha males, but they all have their own specialties and different personalities. Blake is thus far my personal favorite MMA fighter in the series. I loved every page of it.My Review, Author Interview

<— This gets my vote for best Rock Star Romance. This is the third book in this highly anticipated final book of the trilogy. This book was a game changer for me when it came to Rock Star romances and I don’t usually read them, but this one got me and I became a Dbag fan in the end. My Review

<—Another highly anticipated book of the year and wonderful addition to the Beautiful Disaster Series. Travis’s POV was surprisingly GREAT!! There were scenes in there that you did know happened and the Epilogue had me salivating for more and I can’t wait until the Maddox’s brother’s books come out in 2014.My Review

<— This by far was my favorite Dystopian book from last year. I was so pleasantly surprised with the concept of the world the authors built for this story. If you like Hunger Games and Divergent and just start-up action this book is for you and I look forward to the rest of the series. My Review, Author Interview

—> This by far is the best YA Paranormal book I read last year. Origin is book #4 of the Lux series and the final installment of the series is due to release sometime this year. Me being more of an NA reader than a YA reader, I still loved this world the author created and was locked in on every page.

<— This was the most highly anticipated book that released last year. I wanted to get my hands on it and it did not disappoint. I gave it 6 stars which I rarely give out because not only did I love the book but I also thought it changed me in some way. The author really dug deep in the final installment of the Breathing Series and gave us all POV’s. A very touching book with a very satisfying ending lesson of what is meant to happen will happen. My Review

<— This by far was my best gangsta read of 2013. I loved the story – how it draws you in – and the unique union between two young teenagers that deal with very grown up topics like child trafficking and Italian mafia. This is a cross between the Godfather and Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire. It is a New Adult game changer you don’t wan to miss. My Review

<— I want to scream this to anyone who will listen: this is my favorite New Adult Interracial Romance book of the year! All three books I devoured in two days flat. This author writes the most complicated characters but some how you fall in love with them and you find yourself forgetting the color difference and focusing more on the relationship challenges and complications. I fell in love with each character in this book and I just can’t wait until this author finishes the fourth book of this wonderful story. My Review

<— This book just got all my emotions going. This New Adult coming of age gem of a book will have you crying, laughing and everything in between, but most of all I loved-loved-loved the characters in this book. Author Interview

<—This book had me neglecting my house duties and I was well entertained. Check my review and see how this AA Romance will take you away just like it did me. 🙂My Review

<—Best Paranormal book I read in 2013!! I loved this book – so entertaining and it’s a great book to read if you loved Twilight! Author Interview

<— My favorite erotic book pick of this year and the second installment of the Beautiful Bastard series. It’s entertaining, yet has all the pieces of a great Erotic fiction. Thankfully you can find this book just about anywhere you like to buy books, and soon there should be a movie or TV series out based on this book series. See My review, author interview

<— Such a great escape book for me. This series is set in the beautiful Florida Gulf Coast area and has some really great stories to tell. I got to escape to a WARM destination in this coming of age love story. The author pushed me into a world of bliss but had me entertained with each couple that meets in the Sea Breeze. My Review, Author Interview

<— This one get’s best break out New Adult author. This IR romance is unique and oh so swony I can’t wait to see what this author has to offer. My Review

<—Last but certainly not least, Hopeless, which I know was released December 2012 but I did not get to read until this year, and boy, I was taken again by the writing of Colleen Hoover. This very intense YA/NA book had a hold of me even after I read it. It had me thinking about the main characters’ lives. You don’t want to miss this book IF you haven’t read it yet. My Interview with the author

So you can see that I could not just pick 10 books it was a wonderful year of releases and I am looking forward to 2014. What are some of your favorite reads? I

What do you do when everything you avoid, turns out to be exactly what you need?

Easy and predictable, just the way he likes it, Blake Daniels flies through life the way he burns through women: on his terms, no regrets.

With his fighting career in full swing, he's on the threshold of title contention. But when his training is compromised by injury, the stakes grow impossibly higher. The rage that fuels his punches also chips away at his focus, and he risks losing everything he cares about.

He won’t let that happen. Not again.

Layla’s through with men. After a marriage that never should’ve happened, she hopes to reclaim the pieces of the woman she lost years ago.

Emotional abuse has left her insecure and terrified. A master at faking what she’s not feeling, she masks her self-doubt in false confidence.

She’ll never let another man hurt her. Not again.

Chased by shadows of the past, Blake and Layla know what they don’t want, but their hearts have a different plan. As a web of lies and betrayal threatens to destroy them, they’re forced to make a choice.

Is love enough to heal even the deepest wounds?

Or will they be left Fighting to Forgive?

A ground breaking and addicting MMA romance that grabs you from the beginning and makes you feel every single word” -It’s Andrea’s Book Blog

Now were do I begin? I freaking LOVVVVVE THIS BOOK! I mean I enjoyed the heck out of the first book, but the sequel – Blake’s story – blew me away. First off let’s talk about this cover. Blake sitting on a bench with his head down drew me in and I wanted to sit on that bench and hug him myself and tell him it will be alright, before and especially after reading this book. The book had suspense, swoon moments, heart break, love, and the hot MMA fighter you love and I mean love him. Ok, so I am getting a little head of myself, so let’s go to the beginning.

So at the beginning of the book you get a flashback on Blake’s life before MMA fighting and it has you thinking, what in the heck happened? You don’t really know and you have suspicions and guesses but let me me tell you, I was ALL kind of wrong – this story will shock you and you do not even see it coming. I love it when you read a book and the main guy seems to be a jerk and someone you want to stay away from, but yet you are drawn to want to know their story. They end up surprising you in the story and you end up loving them and rooting for them.

I wasn’t prepared for how this book grabs you and pulls you in submission. I mean, Blake and Layla took over my day and gave me a good old fashion book hangover that had me talking about it afterwards. Layla is nothing really special; you learn quickly her situation or at least you think you did. Hehehe : ) (you think I am going to tell what? No way I am not going to ruin this book for you)

It was intense at times, and had me thinking about all the famous MMA fighters out there and if this was their story. I certainly hope so, at least the good times. Now I want to say don’t think this book is all Alpha-male-“hear me roar”, which I love at times. No, this story is sweet and more romance story than beef cake-y. You get to know a softer side of Blake and some things we read a little bit about from the first book. But boy, oh boy, you see his natural instinct to rush in and protect and it makes you want to embrace it.

Swoon-worthy Blake says:.

“It means you fight. Anything worth having in this life, you fight to get. And you don’t stop fighting until you get it”.

“Nothing close to as beautiful is what I’m looking at.”

*Sigh*, There was a moment towards the end of the book I have to tell you, I think I might have gotten pregnant again 🙂 Blake does something that had me blinking hard and just made me melt right there. Yes, guys – be prepared to just melt and swoon that made me say “Well damn, Blake”. I knew his book was going to be good but I had know idea he was going to take me to places I least expected. Bravo, bravo, Blake – you TKO’d this puppy and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Although this is a book #2 in the series, it reads as a standalone and I recommend reading Fighting For Flight to get the whole story. 5 kick-butt stars for me.

You can hear me talk to ya!! I will tell you all about the giveaway !

Enter by leaving a comment on this page by July 18th midnight eastern daylight time. If you want an extra name in the pool, you can #andreasbookblog in the tweet to me @andreasbookblog. Good luck!

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(US addresses can enter to win both book and gift card but if you have a international address outside the United States you can apply for the amazon gift card (only). Please let me know by your comment if you are US or International Thank you)

Now, there were some people who’ve heard about my birthday and wanted to stop by, and I was so excited when the author J.B Salsbury told me that Jonah and Blake from Fighting for Flight heard about my birthday and wanted to talk to me. I was a nervous wreck and I kept talking to myself a lot and said “self, they put on one fictional pant leg on at a time as I do, right?” lol But that did not help, so I just held my breath and entered the room…

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“What up, Andrea? Heard it was your birthday. Wanted to stop by your blog and drop a little something off from Raven—”.
“Dude, sorry I’m late.” Blake strolls through the door, all swagger and cocky grin. “Did someone order a stripper for this shindig?”.
Jonah shakes his head. “A stripper? It’s not your birthday, dumbass. It’s Andrea’s.”.
Blake shrugs and drops into an overstuffed lounge chair, making himself at home. “So. Maybe Andrea likes strippers.”.
“You’re an idiot.”.
“Am I?” Blake tilts his head and raises one eyebrow. “Two words, bro. Magic. Mike.”.
Jonah makes a face like he tasted something sour and stares silently at his friend..
“What?” Blake stares back for a beat, and then rolls his eyes. “Whatever. Anyway…hey, Andrea. Happy Birthday, beautiful. I hope it’s a good one, and if you make it to Vegas look me up. I’ll take you to The Blackout for some live music and an open tab.”.
“Yeah, Raven told me to let you know you’ve got a place to stay if you ever come in town. And a car to drive.” Jonah leans to the side to pull an envelope from his back pocket. “This is from us. It’s tickets to my next fight in Houston.”.
“Fight tickets? Really. You’re such an amateur.” Blake leans to the side and pulls a tiny wad of satin and strings from his back pocket. “You’re gonna love—”.
Jonah slaps the silky scraps from Blake’s hand. “You can’t give her that.”.
Blake’s jaw goes slack, eyes focused on his now empty hand. “Dick. I can’t believe you did that.” He scoops up his gift from where it landed on the floor. “I picked these out myself.”.
Jonah leans in. “You cannot give her those,” he whisper-yells..
“Girls love lingerie.”.
“Yeah, from their boyfriends or husbands. Not from some douche that’s stopping by to say hi.”.
“Huh.” He twirls the fabric and strings around his fingers. “But I signed them.”.
Jonah rolls his lips between his teeth, fighting a smile..
“I thought it would mean more if they were personalized.” Blake points to the tiny triangle of red fabric where his name is scribbled in black ink..
Losing the battle with his smile, Jonah throws his head back with a bark of laughter. “That’s sick. How do you think the man in her life is gonna feel when she brings those home?”.
“These are hot! He’ll thank me.”.
“Wow. You’re totally clueless. I feel sorry for the chick you end up with.”.
“Ain’t ending up with one chick. I’m ending with several.”.
“We’ll see about that.” Jonah runs a hand through his perfectly messy black hair. “I’m gonna take off. Andrea, Happy Birthday.” He flashes a one-dimpled smile. “Make it count.” His long legs eat up the space to the door. He smacks the back of Blake’s head as he passes. “Later, Captain Idiot.”.
“Ow—dick!” Blake rubs his head, seeming to not notice that he’s doing it with the skimpy lingerie hand. “No present, I guess.” He shoves the gift back into his pocket mumbling something about saving them for another time. “But my offer still stands if you can drag ass to the desert.” He pushes up from his chair and turns to leave. “Oh, and thanks for all the support you’re giving Jonah’s book. I hope you’ll do the same for mine. After all…” One side of his mouth curls into a grin. “Mine’s bigger.”.
Happy Birthday, Andrea! From all the cast of Fighting for Flight, and most especially…from me.